Let me preface this by saying that as a rule I can't stomach mock drafts. I find them tedious and irrelevant, as odious as Power Rankings in Week 2 and all of that "braketology" nonsense that begins around Thanksgiving. Whole lotta talkin', but ain't sayin' nothing.

So, as the complete hypocrite that I am, I'm nonetheless participating in one of these mock fallacies this morning on TV. It's one of those deals where a media schlub in each NFL city says who that team will select with its pick. With the Skins picking 21st, I am at the mercy of the previous 20 schlubs. And in the end we all know that the draft itself will never play out precisely in this manner - or perhaps even close to it - and that the draft is a dependent exercise based around myriad in-the-moment decisions like trade options, available talent remaining, ability to trade up or down in later rounds, etc.

That's generally why I think all this is a waste of time. Mock drafts are, however, a way to kill the few weeks of boredom built into the never-ending NFL calendar, so despite my personal aversion the MD, I fully understand the appeal and hey, whatever gets you through the night (or early April) is cool with me. Generally though, they amount to nothing, as not even many of the team themselves will be 100 percent certain of their pick until the seconds are clicking away on their time on the clock.

With that out of the way, I turn, as always, to the bloggy faithful. Here's what I have to work with. The following players are off the board, as it were, when I pick for Vinny's Vendettas (we need to come up with a better Cerrato-tinged nickname for the team; email all suggestions and I'll pick the best, or at least the best that won't get me fired for posting on the blog).

Let's see. The Skins would love to get a stud D Lineman, but 6 of them went in the top 15 picks. Should the board truly resemble this when pick 21 comes in a few weeks, I believe the Skins will have looked into trading up for an end like Merling or Harvey. The temptation to take a DL like Calais Campbell might be there, but his stock is falling (Cerrato's main man John Palermo, the new D Line coach, worked with Campbell at Miami). Two Wrs with some good size - Devin Thomas and Limas Sweed - would be on the board as well, but in this draft only two Wrs have come off the board and you could still get a comparable talent in the second round, moving up from 51 if need be.

In this case, I think the Skins would be looking to deal down, as they want to find quantity and quality in this draft (good luck with that), but should they chose a player here (and for the purposes of my little TV exercise, they have to), I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt. I'm going to say that after years of letting supreme talent get away from them in their own backyard (look at all the Maryland Tech and UVA kids they have passed on over the years), they are going to take the best available player here and nab Branden Albert, the versatile O Lineman from Virginia.

The O Line is way old in the tooth and injuries have been crushing in recent years. The tackles are not getting any younger and guys like Thomas and Jansen have been unable to avoid freakish injuries the past few years. Albert could push Kendall for a guard spot right away or, given what some scouts have told me about his ability to play tackle, push Jansen as well on the right side. He could be groomed as a guard/tackle and perhaps be the guy to take over for Samuels in a few years at the all important LT spot. Yeah, he's just a junior and he'll be raw, but the idea of being able to fix everything immediately and win the Super Bowl every year has not worked and this would be a chance to get a potential cornerstone.

Again, in the end, this is fruitless, as there is no way in heck I see Albert being on the board at 21. So you guys tell me if I'm crazy? Do they have to take a WR here? Will you thrown eggs at your TV when my ugly mug pops up on TV making this selection (some of you probably make a habit out of this whenever you see my face regardless).

Also, for what it's worth, the Redskins began their draft "readings," or initial prep work, this week, without Cerrato, who was at the NFL meetings. Some in the building found that odd, given that this team is now 100 percent Cerrato's show, the entire football ops. Some former coaching candidates wanted to begin the draft readings a week earlier, knowing Cerrato would be away for the NFL meetings this week, but it's his baby, and his schedule, so the very capable Scott Campbell oversaw everything with the coaches and drafts thus far this week.

The Redskins also have their huge workout for all the local kids eligible for the draft - kids who played high school or college ball in the area - coming up, which they have placed increasing import on in recent years (guys like Buzbee and Westbrook came from there), and Cerrato will be present for that, I am told.

I'd predict them drafting Campbell, Nicks, then trading up with their two third round picks (not the comp just the one they recieve from a trade down) for a reciever like Nelson/Maningham or a corner like Porter or Smith. Afterwards the comp pick would be used on a 3 technique like DeMario Pressley (DT NC State) or if they decide to go corner with one of their two second round picks then they could take a G/T guy like McGlynn or Jeremy Zutah with their comp selection.

__________________"It's nice to be important, but its more important to be nice."- Scooter

"I feel like Dirtbag has been slowly and methodically trolling the board for a month or so now."
- FRPLG

JLC has really been off his game regarding the draft process thus far.

If Albert is gone, I think it's pretty much a foregone conclusion at this point that we will draft on the DL in the 1st round.

I was surprised he didn't mention Balmer (DT UNC). Of course if theres an offer to trade down I 'd think that Cerrato would take it. In fact Cerrato has already hinted that he would like to trade down.

And given the connection between Calias Campbell and the new D-Line coach along with Campbell's falling stock, I think it's possible that the Skin's would work towards reuniting the two by making Campbell an early 2nd round pick since they might not be able to justify selecting him with the 21st pick.

__________________"It's nice to be important, but its more important to be nice."- Scooter

"I feel like Dirtbag has been slowly and methodically trolling the board for a month or so now."
- FRPLG

Yeah from the sound of things Blache is pushing hard for a DL. And Blache is not the kind of guy you want to piss off.

If Albert were actually there that would look like a major steal at this point. In some of the latest mocks (I know, I know) from reputable guys he has gone in the top 10 (5 to KC in Kiper's, 9 to NE - after trade - in Kirwan's). If he was there the Skins should DEFINITELY take him over Campbell. You can trade back up in the 2nd and take a DL if Blache flips over a table or something.

__________________It has taken a long time, but I have finally realized that nothing I say about the Redskins will have any effect upon anything the Redskins do.

If you're talking about Manningham the answer is no. He's list at 6'0 1/4 inch. Yes I know he's still small but at the same time he's the best playmaker from that group and it's possible that his ability might make the front office look past the fact that the he's not a "big" guy. However if Vinny's serious aboth the 2nd teir of Recievers then the canidates are Manningham, Nelson, Donnie Avery, Earl Bennett, Jerome Simpson (This is a guy I would look at very carefully, if the Skins pass on Jordy and Manningham then this guy might be the next best thing), and Harry Douglas

__________________"It's nice to be important, but its more important to be nice."- Scooter

"I feel like Dirtbag has been slowly and methodically trolling the board for a month or so now."
- FRPLG

Of course, I like Marcus Monk, but he's a 5th rounder or so. If we're going to go for a WR in the 1st or 2nd, I'd like to see us pick up Limas Sweed.
He shaved off .08 off his 40 time and is running at 4.40. He has very good size at 6'5" or 6'4" depending on the source, and Kiper ranks him as the #5 best wr in the draft. When watching his games, I think he has better NFL talent. He could work on routes (who couldn't) but he finds the ball very well, and uses his body very well.

Of course, I like Marcus Monk, but he's a 5th rounder or so. If we're going to go for a WR in the 1st or 2nd, I'd like to see us pick up Limas Sweed.
He shaved off .08 off his 40 time and is running at 4.40. He has very good size at 6'5" or 6'4" depending on the source, and Kiper ranks him as the #5 best wr in the draft. When watching his games, I think he has better NFL talent. He could work on routes (who couldn't) but he finds the ball very well, and uses his body very well.

I agree, but does anyone know the condition of Limas Sweed's wrist?

__________________ “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Socrates

If you're talking about Manningham the answer is no. He's list at 6'0 1/4 inch. Yes I know he's still small but at the same time he's the best playmaker from that group and it's possible that his ability might make the front office look past the fact that the he's not a "big" guy. However if Vinny's serious aboth the 2nd teir of Recievers then the canidates are Manningham, Nelson, Donnie Avery, Earl Bennett, Jerome Simpson (This is a guy I would look at very carefully, if the Skins pass on Jordy and Manningham then this guy might be the next best thing), and Harry Douglas

Jerome Simpson will be a great red zone target in the NFL, didn't he have like the second biggest hands in the Senior Bowl.

__________________ “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Socrates